Delay on veterans’ health bill won’t last long

“We are going to give our Republican friends another opportunity to vote on this Monday night,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Thursday, after the failure of a long-awaited bill on health benefits for military veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits.

Advocate and comedian Jon Stewart joined veterans groups in intensifying pressure on Republicans who voted to stall the legislation. Forty-one Republican senators moved to force debate on amendments that would reduce future mandatory spending in the bill.

“They love to say they support the troops, but they don’t support the troops,” Stewart said. “They support the war machine.”

Schumer said that when he brings the legislation back to the floor this week he will allow Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey to bring an amendment addressing mandatory spending to the floor for debate.

The Senate had passed an earlier version last month on an 84-14 vote. The House passed it on an overwhelming 342-88 vote earlier this month.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who supported the bill last month before opposing the procedural vote, said he believes the bill will pass.